Re: Bundy Museum

Shows resemblance to me with the Pierre Hallet collection... Only at least estimates are more on the realistic (but still...) side here. But ok as Lee points

Message 1 of 3
, May 5, 2006

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Shows resemblance to me with the Pierre Hallet collection...
Only at least estimates are more on the realistic (but still...) side
here. But ok as Lee points out for the Bwa mask for example, they
clearly state 'never been worn'. Although I'm not sure who's going to
pay 1250$ for a 'not-worn' mid century mask...
I must say that the more I look into what goes around in african arts
nowadays the more I observe that new-ish, not-worn even style
incoherent and clear made-to-copy pieces go higher and higher prices.
As I cannot imagine all these are just scam tries, I suppose there is
a growing market for this kind of material. As simple as that. This
could lead to different conclusions and different personal judgements
off course. But the pure observation seems quite obvious to me.

...

Come on Jan, back to work now :-)

Cheers!

--- In African_Arts@yahoogroups.com, "ari birnbaum" <a312@...> wrote:
>
> Lee,
> I agree...
> That why i send the article...
> I don;t know how could they claim that"Each piece has been
inspected,is guaranteed authentic,and is accompanied with
> Certificate of Authenticity....
> Ari
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: LRubinstein@...
> To: African_Arts@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Thursday, May 04, 2006 9:36 PM
> Subject: Re: [African_Arts] Bundy Museum
>
>
> Ari:
>
> Thanks for forwarding the link to the unusual "exhibition" and
sale at the Bundy Museum in Binghamton, NY. The house is interesting
historically as the birth-place of the company which "ultimately was
transformed into International Business Machines â" IBM..." I find
it worth noting, however, that there is no introduction identifying
and explaining the origin of "the collection" of African works housed
in the basement of a restored home that houses a historical clock
collection. Nor are there any names presented of the "gallery
experts" who have inspected the objects and who will provide the
mentioned Certificates of Authenticity promised with each African
object. In all fairness, though, it does not seem that the site
makes any absurd claims, although issues of value could be
debated...or calmly discussed. (One description of a mask priced at
$1250, however, is this: "A very nice mid-20th century plank mask
used in agricultural ritual by the Bwa people of Burkina Faso in
Africa. Never been worn."[Emphasis obviously mine.])
>
> I am in support of endeavors which seek to make accessible works
from African traditions, especially in areas where such access is
limited or otherwise absent. While it is indeed possible that the
collection is supported by documentation not in evidence on the site,
a perusal of the works exhibited (and priced) suggests that the
general quality and significance of works on display is on a par with
works currently being created in workshop settings and offered in
many shops and sites around the world. Since Binghamton is not
entirely out of the geographical range which I can cover in a day,
perhaps I will have an opportunity to look and investigate more
closely.
>
> Lee
>
> Lee
>
>
>
>
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